It’s sometimes difficult to know where we should start when it comes to moving abroad. One rule of thumb is to always follow the money. Once you’ve got the job abroad, everything else is smooth sailing from there! Here are 4 tips to help you to secure the international bag:
1. Use your network
One of the biggest hurdles you’ll face when applying for jobs abroad is to find someone that lives in your dream city, and can give you the inside scoop on professional scene. With so many networking sites like Linkedin, Group.me, and even Facebook, this isn’t such a big deal anymore. You can reach out to 1st and 2nd connections all over the world. Your network literally transcends borders now!
2. Go where the opportunity is.
Look for places where you area of expertise is valued. For example, if you’re in the technology field. You might want to look for opportunities in major cities such as London, or Singapore. If you’re in Pharmaceuticals, you’d be more interested in Canada, or Japan because the industry is bigger there (which means more opportunity). Not only do you have a better chance at getting hired, but you’ll also have more innovative and interesting job opportunities.
3. Find the right websites for jobs searching.
A combination of Job search websites and recruiters is the best option to make sure you’re coming across as many opportunities as possible. But it’s JUST AS IMPORTANT to look for local recruiters and jobs sites in the city you want to move to. They’ll have a lot more local opportunities advertised, and most of them will also have insight on the work culture, something you won’t find on international job search websites!
4. Be ready to compromise.
Just like applying for a job at home, there may be things you’ll need to compromise on. For example, if you’re adamant about moving to Bali, you might not have as many opportunities in Fin-Tech as you would in London for example. You’ll have to make the decision on whether you want to move to the city of your dreams and sacrifice a little of your career, or keep your career on point and compromise on the location. Either way, it’s important to understand from the beginning that the perfect place may not exist.